Mike Cotty is a veteran of some of the world's toughest sportives and, in 2006, finished 35th overall in La Marmotte before going on to finish 22nd in the Etape du Tour 48 hours later. With over 20 years experience competing in road, cyclocross and mountain bike races Mike is best known for his extraordinary endurance feats including a non-stop traverse of the Pyrenees, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, in 2011 and an unbelievable 677km non-stop ride from Evian-les-Bains to Nice, including 17 mountains and over 16,000 metres of climbing, in August 2013.
Methods to refresh your steed that don't incur the cost of a new bike
Can a weekend ride out be constructive as well as social?
Your route from local sportive to Continental challenge
How to dress, whatever the weather
Road cycling has never been as popular but choosing your first road bike can be difficult. Read our step-by-step guide and buy the best bike...
Learning the route, judging your effort and pacing
How to ensure you have everything you need ahead of a big sportive
The greatest ascents in Belle Italia with sportive guru, Mike Cotty
Thresholds, sweet spots, one-legged pedalling and more with Mike Cotty
Alpe d'Huez, Col du Galibier, Col du Télégraphe, Col d’Izoard, Col de la Madeleine
Aubisque, Tourmalet, Superbagnères, Hautacam, and Peyresourde
Steering clear of errors that could squander your effort
Mike Cotty's training tips to hone climbing skills, speed, recovery and more
Fitting in training when time is at a premium
More on tackling the season-opener from sportive guru, Mike Cotty
Severity, distance, climate, preparation time, logistics
Warm down, nutrition, muscle stimulation, sleep, and days off
Preparing location, intervals vs. duration, motivational tools, group vs. solo, monitoring effort with hrm or power
Deciding distance, layering, fuelling, monitoring effort, and carrying spares
Goal setting, endurance vs. intervals, increasing training load, off-the-bike workouts, beating boredom
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